Political Quotes

“Mr. Chair, I thank my colleague from Rhode Island for once again describing what is a very important policy. I have to disagree with my colleague from Alabama (Mr. Byrne). I do not think that this is Federal top-down. In fact, I think this is better decisionmaking, bottoms-up, not top-down. It gives opportunities for local communities to have an input. I want to unequivocally state that we spend no money on ocean planning. The NOP does not create any Federal regulations or supersede any local or State regulations. But what it does do is it leverages taxpayer dollars to reduce duplication between Federal, State and local agencies, to streamline data collection, and to strengthen public involvement. That is exactly what we want to have happen in our coastal communities. Our oceans and coasts support 3 million ocean-related jobs, generate $360 billion through tourism, development, commercial fishing, recreational fishing, boating, energy, shipping, and other activities. This is a very effective planning tool to reconcile and coordinate those activities. It does not prevent them. And just in closing, I will say that my colleague from Alabama may look at this one way, but I represent the State of Maine, which has a tremendous amount of coastline. I represent about half the coastline off the coast of Maine, and I have also represented many coastal communities prior to coming to Congress as a State legislator. I live on an island.…”